I think you
underestimate the teachers. It`s not just about
tracking. Removing the middle tier will have the effect
of lowering average AP tier test scores while raising
standard tier test scores. The improvement in both
absolute and relative scoring for the standard tier,
which is entirely a statistical artifact, will be touted
as proof that public schools do a good job and thus
teachers need more money. Naturally, the change in the
composition of the students taking the tests will not be
mentioned.

I can`t help but
notice title inflation in the tiers. Since when did a
100 IQ tier merit being called
"honors"?

There was a very
similar paper written a while back about black law
school students. It basically found that giving them AA
slots in top-tier law schools like Harvard was setting
them up to flunk out and never be lawyers at all,
whereas if they had gone to second-tier schools they
very likely would have graduated. Not that I think we
need more lawyers, but it does to show how feel-good
liberal policies harm the people they purport to help.